Senior Director, Research (Washington)

Penta Group is a global company providing data-driven solutions to help clients achieve their objectives in an increasingly complex stakeholder environment. We provide cutting-edge intelligence products to help clients understand what their stakeholders think, see, and hear, and then leverage that intelligence to develop and execute effective, measurable strategies.

Our global team brings decades of experience in business, government, communications, research, data science, and media. Our clients include companies across a variety of industries, including technology, financial services, energy, healthcare, and more. Penta has offices in New York, London, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Dublin, London, Brussels, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

About the Momentum Team:

Penta’s Momentum team helps clients anticipate and act on emerging cultural, political, and consumer trends. We identify under-the-radar ideas, map their trajectories, and develop creative, research-driven strategies that help brands and organizations stay ahead of change.

Blending social listening, proprietary tools, and primary research, the team advises on everything from campaign messaging and thought leadership to brand positioning and issue advocacy. Our work is dynamic, collaborative, and oriented toward What’s Next.

Role Summary:

Penta is seeking a Senior Director to join the Momentum team in New York City. This is a senior, client-facing role focused on leading research engagements, developing insights, and helping clients respond to evolving stakeholder expectations and cultural dynamics.

The Senior Director will manage client relationships, shape research projects, and guide internal teams. This role requires experience translating data and analysis into actionable strategies, strong communication skills, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams.

The Senior Director is expected to:

Client Leadership:

- Serve as the lead point of contact for key client accounts, helping define project goals and maintain strong working relationships

- Work with clients to clarify business or communications objectives and oversee the development of research-backed recommendations

- Provide ongoing strategic counsel grounded in research and cultural context

Research Design & Strategic Insight:

- Design and direct research engagements that draw on a range of methodologies—quantitative, qualitative, social listening, digital analytics, secondary research

- Guide the team in translating research findings into narratives, recommendations, and creative strategies that inform messaging, brand positioning, and reputation management

- Connect the dots across disparate signals—emerging trends, online conversation, political/policy news—to create foresight for clients

Team & Project Leadership

- Lead multidisciplinary teams of analysts to deliver high-quality, on-time client work

- Provide hands-on mentorship to staff, supporting their development and fostering a culture of intellectual rigor and curiosity

- Oversee project scopes, timelines, resourcing, and collaboration with internal and external partners

The ideal candidate will have:

- 8–12+ years of experience in research, strategy, insights, communications, or public affairs

- Experience leading strategic research engagements using a blend of methodologies (e.g., surveys, focus groups, stakeholder interviews, social listening, secondary trend analysis)

- Proven success in client leadership roles with strong presentation and storytelling skills

- Demonstrated ability to generate and apply insights to brand, reputation, campaign, or messaging strategies

- Collaborative and comfortable managing across teams and disciplines

- Experience managing and mentoring junior staff

- Strong comfort with data analysis and data-informed strategy; familiarity with platforms like Brandwatch, Qualtrics, Tableau, or SPSS is a plus

Salary Range:

The base salary range for this position is $150,000 - $200,000 annually, depending on a candidate’s experience and qualifications as it relates to the position.

Benefits:

Penta Group is proud to offer a generous benefits package, in which regular full-time employees are eligible for enrollment the first day of the month following their date of hire. Please find a list below of our current benefit offerings:

- Excellent health care, vision, and dental coverage provided by United Healthcare with 100% of individual employee premiums and 50% of dependent premiums covered

- Competitive retirement benefits with a 401(k) matching 100% up to 3% of an employee’s deferred salary, and matching 50% of the next 2% deferred

- Employer paid short term disability, long term disability, and life insurance, with the option to buy additional coverage

- Twelve weeks paid parental leave

- Flexible paid time off and a generous holiday schedule

- Monthly stipend for cell phone

- Optional pet insurance coverageFrequent firm-wide social events and activities

- An excellent environment for learning and growth

Location and Hybrid Schedule:

For this position, we are only considering applicants in New York City and looking to fill the role as soon as possible. This person will be expected to join our team in our downtown NYC office in person Monday through Thursday and has the option to work remote on Fridays.

Penta Group, LLC values diversity and inclusion, is committed to equal employment opportunity, and to compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws. We also comply with District of Columbia law, which prohibits discrimination and harassment against employees, applicants for employment and interns based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, reproductive health decisions and breastfeeding), national origin, disability, age (18 and over), personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family responsibilities, matriculation (e.g., being enrolled in a college or university or in a business, nursing, professional, secretarial, technical or vocational school), political affiliation, genetic information (including family medical history), lawful use of tobacco products, unemployment status and status as a victim or the family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense or stalking.